Curient Highlights 'Dual Payload and PI Platform' as Next-Generation ADC Competitiveness

Participation at World ADC Summit Korea 2026
Preclinical Results of HER2-Targeted Dual Payload ADC 'QP101' Revealed

Curient presented its dual payload ADC candidate 'QP101' and its strategy for developing a new proteasome inhibitor (PI) payload platform at a global ADC conference.

Dr. Wonkyun Ahn of Curient is presenting at the 2026 World ADC Summit South Korea. Curient

Curient, an innovative drug development company, announced on June 10 that it introduced its next-generation ADC payload development strategy at the 'World ADC Summit South Korea 2026,' which was held in Seoul from June 9 to 11.

Curient explained that ADC competitiveness is expanding beyond antibody-based drug delivery to include innovations in payload mechanisms that effectively kill cancer cells. While single-payload ADCs may face efficacy limitations due to tumor resistance mechanisms, dual-payload ADCs, which combine payloads with different mechanisms of action, can simultaneously block multiple tumor escape pathways.

Curient's HER2-targeted ADC candidate 'QP101' is structured to combine a CDK7 inhibitor and a TOP1 inhibitor. The company stated that it was designed so that CDK7 inhibition blocks the repair of DNA damage induced by the TOP1 inhibitor, thereby generating a synergistic anticancer effect. In preclinical studies, QP101 demonstrated superior antitumor efficacy compared to single-payload ADCs and the combination of two separate single-payload ADCs. It also showed efficacy in models non-responsive or resistant to Enhertu (T-DXd).

The company also pointed out that current ADC development mainly focuses on microtubule inhibitors and DNA-damaging agents, emphasizing the need for new payload mechanisms.

Additionally, Curient introduced a proteasome inhibitor (PI)-based payload platform under development by its subsidiary, QLi5 Therapeutics. This platform targets the proteasome, a protein degradation system in cancer cells, and is being considered for use not only with various antibodies in blood cancers and solid tumors, but also in autoimmune diseases.

According to the company, preclinical results for PI ADCs—presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) last year—confirmed antitumor effects in various cancer models, including models resistant to Enhertu.

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